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Radford’s Andre Stuart (left) heads the ball to a teammate during Friday’s Class 2 boys soccer semifinal against Clarke County at Spartan Field.
Radford’s Robert Fuksz (7) heads a shot toward goal while being defended by Clarke County’s Joseph Ziercher (20) during Friday’s Class 2 boys soccer semifinal at Spartan Field.
Radford goalkeeper Charlie Davis (0) is surrounded by teammates in celebration after defeating Clarke County in the Class 2 boys soccer semifinal at Spartan Field.
Charlie Davis dropped to his knees and pounded his fists into the Spartan Field turf. The Radford goalkeeper, overcome by emotion, raised his head and saw his teammates sprinting toward him. The nerves he felt seconds before were replaced with a feeling of being free.
“It gets the chills from head to toe,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
The senior came up big in his first penalty kick shootout. He stopped the first shot he faced and watched as two other attempts went wide.
Radford goalkeeper Charlie Davis deflects the first of five penalty kicks during a shootout against Clarke County in Friday’s Class 2 semifinal at Spartan Field.
The final attempt from Clarke County’s Joseph Ziercher, which went over the crossbar, solidified the Bobcats’ 2-1 win Friday in the Class 2 boys soccer state semifinal.
The Bobcats (17-3) will play in their seventh state title game against defending champion Glenvar at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Field in Salem.
“It means the world,” Radford coach Clark Ramsey said. “… You can’t get to these places without sacrifice, and all these guys know that so many people around them have put them before themselves for us to get here. That’s exactly how we get here.”
Radford outlasted Clarke County 3-2 in the penalty kick shootout.
Andrew Hope, Colin Vice and Brody Shull converted in the shootout for Radford. Shull’s goal gave the Bobcats a 3-2 advantage ahead of Ziercher’s attempt.
Emmet Morris and Kutman Turdubaev converted in the shootout for Clarke.
“It’s nerve-wracking. It’s scary. That was my first ever PK shootout. It is nerve-wracking,” Davis said. “… Once I got that first save [on Jose Ramirez’s attempt], everything was out the window. I felt free. I felt one with the goal, one with the line, and everything just flowed smooth and graceful.”
Davis recorded all four of his saves after halftime.
The Bobcats trailed 1-0 with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation when a throw-in resulted in the equalizer.
Dawson Martin’s throw-in into the box was headed in by Drew Edwards in the 78th minute.
It was a play that Ramsey said Edwards was not supposed to advance from his position at back. Edwards, a Pulaski County transfer, told Ramsey, “I got this.”
He delivered.
“Drew came here this year, and he might be a Cougar born and raised, but he’s a Bobcat now and he’s going to die a Bobcat,” Davis said. “He just knew it. The game was in his hands and he’s confident. I love him and he’s a brother.”
The Bobcats dominated control in the first half and for most of the second half.
Radford’s Brody Shull (left) and Clarke County’s Emmet Morris battle for possession during Friday’s Class 2 boys soccer semifinal at Spartan Field.
Clarke County, which had appeared in the last two state title games and defeated Radford in the 2022 and ’23 semifinals, had back-to-back chances early in the second half. The second one found its target.
Ziercher scored off a corner kick from Carter Frame in the 55th minute to put the Eagles (19-3-1) ahead 1-0.
“It was a little aggressive down there,” Davis said. “… I went out a little too late and they just cut me off. It was a great play.”
Drake Barton finished with five saves for Clarke.
Radford hasn’t played for a boys soccer state championship since 2017 when it fell in penalties to Galax. The Bobcats have lost in their last four trips to the state title game (2009 and ’10 to George Mason and 2014 and ’17 to Galax), and Saturday’s state final matchup against Glenvar will be the first time the two Three Rivers District rivals meet for the state crown.
“We didn’t beat them this season, but I’ll lose to them a thousand times if we beat them the last time,” Davis said.
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
damien.sordelett@roanoke.com
SEMIFINAL
Radford 1, Clarke County 1
(Radford wins 3-2 in PKs)
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Radford senior goalkeeper Charlie Davis discusses his mentality in the penalty kick shootout as the Bobcats outlasted Clarke County to win a C…
Radford goalkeeper Charlie Davis deflects the first of five penalty kicks during a shootout against Clarke County in Friday’s Class 2 semifinal at Spartan Field.
Radford’s Brody Shull (left) and Clarke County’s Emmet Morris battle for possession during Friday’s Class 2 boys soccer semifinal at Spartan Field.
Radford’s Andre Stuart (left) heads the ball to a teammate during Friday’s Class 2 boys soccer semifinal against Clarke County at Spartan Field.
Radford’s Robert Fuksz (7) heads a shot toward goal while being defended by Clarke County’s Joseph Ziercher (20) during Friday’s Class 2 boys soccer semifinal at Spartan Field.
Radford goalkeeper Charlie Davis (0) is surrounded by teammates in celebration after defeating Clarke County in the Class 2 boys soccer semifinal at Spartan Field.
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